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Selling Process FAQ

It depends on the condition, preparation, pricing, timing, interest rates, buyer demand, and how your home compares to its neighbors.

When a Bay Area home is priced and prepared correctly, it often sells in 2–3 weeks.

When it isn’t, it can sit. Time is not neutral.

You can. It will cost you.

Most buyers make emotional decisions, then justify them logically. Homes that feel engaging sell faster and for more. Dollar for dollar, staging consistently delivers the strongest return — often selling homes faster and for meaningfully more.

If the difference can be hundreds of thousands of dollars, this is not the place to economize.

Typically 3–4 weeks, assuming calendars cooperate.

Preparation is sequential — not modular. If one step slips, others don’t magically reschedule. Once the calendar is set, we protect it carefully and ask you to do the same.

This is much easier if we start before you move out.

More complexity than you expect.

Selling is logistical, financial, and emotional. Often, the move itself is the easiest part. Once the house is empty, a small army of professionals arrives to reframe your home as a product for the market — which can feel disorienting or mildly offensive.

None of it is personal. The goal is attention. Attention drives leverage. Leverage drives price.

You may also feel exposed once the home is live. That’s normal. Selling is vulnerable. Anyone who says otherwise is lying.

We don’t set value. The market does.

Our job is to design a strategy that gives you the highest price with the cleanest terms. Pricing is based on local comps, current conditions, experience, and judgment. It is not based on price per square foot alone (that’s a starting point, not a conclusion).

Pricing is an art. Anyone who guarantees a result is guessing.

A few classics:

  • Assuming personal upgrades equal universal value
  • Believing the second offer will be better than the first
  • Waiting for “the one buyer” instead of creating demand

Buyers value different things. A wine cellar means nothing to someone who drinks beer. A gym doesn’t matter if they hate exercising. Pools are often a liability, not a perk.

More buyers = more leverage.

Needles in haystacks are overrated. They also tend to prick.

Generally:

  • Kitchens and bathrooms
  • Primary suites
  • Light, flow, and openness
  • Hardwood floors and fresh paint
  • Usable outdoor space
  • Dual-pane windows
  • AC
  • Permitted ADUs

Timeless beats trendy. Remodels older than ~10 years are often considered dated.

  • Pools
  • Over-the-top finishes
  • Elaborate gyms, bars, or hobby rooms
  • Anything overly complicated

Buyers pay for clarity, not novelty.

Sometimes — but not always proportionally.

Solar, insulation, and energy efficiency improve comfort and operating costs, which buyers like. But they don’t always translate to higher sale prices. Sexy still sells. Insulation is sensible, not sexy.

(We hope this changes.)

Trust the process. Stay flexible. Avoid micromanaging. Be open to feedback — especially when it’s uncomfortable.

When sellers let go early and stay coachable, outcomes tend to improve dramatically. Not magically. Strategically.

  • We are seriously local and independently owned.
  • We are not a large team with frequent turnover.
  • We don’t outsource the work.
  • We don’t sugarcoat.
  • We don’t traffic in hype, pressure, or smoke and mirrors.
  • We know this market intimately because we live and work here. We respect your home, our vendors, and the weight of the transaction. We take the work seriously — not ourselves.
  • And yes, we believe laughter helps.

Absolutely.

If homes had fixed values, representation wouldn’t matter. But homes are nuanced, emotional, and highly local assets. Outcomes vary widely based on judgment, strategy, and execution.

Choose agents you trust to tell you the truth, guide you through hard moments, and protect your interests — even when it’s uncomfortable.

What should you expect overall?

  • Anxiety (normal)
  • Tough conversations
  • Inspector reports you will hate
  • Moments of doubt
  • A learning curve

You should also expect clarity, honesty, and effort — always in your best interest.

That’s the job.

Work With Marissa

Get assistance in determining current property value, crafting a competitive offer, writing and negotiating a contract, and much more. Let me guide you through your home-buying journey.

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